Military chaplains, solemn and dignified in crisp dress uniforms, were honored guests at our annual open house, Orthodox Education Day, this year with the theme, “For God and Country.” The seminary, recognizing the "Chancellor/CEO Archpriest Chad Hatfield presents a commendation for service to our oldest living alumnus and Orthodox Chaplain, Archpriest Michael Kovach. (PHOTO: Piotrowski)double Cross" Orthodox Christian chaplains bear in their obedience to the Church and military authorities, filled the day with special presentations and exhibitions, all of which paid homage to our military service men and women, and especially to the "fathers in the field" who serve as pastors to them.

The excellent keynote by The Rev. Dr. Philip LeMasters, "Orthodox Perspectives on Peace, War, and Violence," and the especially moving workshop by Dr. Stephen Muse, "Listen, Witness, and Weep: What Can the Church Offer Service Men and Women?," may be heard as podcasts on Ancient Faith Radio, here: Fr. LeMaster's talk will be available October 5th; Dr. Muse's talk will be available October 19th.

Also, notably, a commendation was given by seminary Chancellor/CEO Archpriest Chad Hatfield to Archpriest Michael Kovach, the oldest living alumnus of our school, and the second Orthodox Chaplain ever to be commissioned by the U.S. military.

Watch a video of Fr. John Perich, curator of the Metropolitan Museum at St. Tikhon's Monastery, describing memorabilia of Orthodox Chaplains, here.

Other highlights of the day were captured in photos (by Deborah Belonick, David Lucs, and Kim Piotrowski):

See full photo gallery by Kim Piotrowsky here:Hierarchial Akathist, "Protection of the Mother of God," with His Eminence, The Most Rev. Justinian, archbishop of Naro-Fominsk presiding; here His Eminence poses with Chaplains Jerome Cwiklinski, Daniel Ressetar, and Peter A. Baktis. (PHOTO: Piotrowski)Seminarian James Parnell, a Second Lieutenant Chaplain Candidate in the New York Army National Guard, chants the Post-Communtion prayers following Divine Liturgy. (PHOTO: Belonick)

Veneration of the icon of St. Basil Martysz, "the Chaplain," which Archpriest Michael Oleksa (pictured) donated to our campus chapel. (PHOTO: Belonick)Veneration of the Holy Protection icon, from the Metropolitan Museum at St. Tikhon's Monastery. (PHOTO: Lucs)Seminary friends Archpriest Basil Summers and Matushka Jan Koczak, wife of retired chaplain Fr. Mark Koczak, enjoy catching up on each other's lives. (PHOTO: Belonick)A bagpiper led the military honor guard, marching to raise the flag on campus. (PHOTO: Piotrowski)Seminarians (from left) Dn. Timothy Yates and Jason Ketz keep the ethnic food coming for hungry festival goers. (PHOTO: Pietrowski)Choirs from St. Vladimir's and St. Tikhon's seminaries sang antiphonal responses to the closing Vespers service. (PHOTO: Lucs)Holy Myrrhbearers Choir sang with celestial voices for Divine Liturgy and their afternoon concert. (PHOTO: Belonick)Enchanting Georgian dancers from the folk group "Presveb" get ready to perform. (PHOTO: Kim Piotrowski)Orthodox chaplain Fr. James Sizemore describes life in the military during a panel discussion. (PHOTO: Belonick)Georgian dancers, the "Caucasian Swords" once again mezmerized the crowd. "Like" a video of them on our Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/SVOTS.(PHOTO: Piotrowski)Serendipitously, three deans of St. Herman Seminary in Alaska met here on "Ed Day": (from left) current dean Archpriest John Dunlop and former deans Archpriests Michael Oleksa and Chad Hatfield. (PHOTO: Piotrowski)Folk dancers from the Macedonian tradition provided colorful entertainment. (PHOTO: Piotrowski)Master iconographer Vladislav Andreyev signs a copy of the latest children's book that he illustrated, published by SVS Press, "St. George and the Dragon." (PHOTO: Piotrowski)Kids activities included games and handicrafts. (PHOTO: Piotrowski)Our campus community sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" as we dedicated a flagpole in honor of Orthodox military chaplains, beginning with Fr. Vladimir Borichevsky, the first Orthodox chaplain commissioned by the U.S. Army. (PHOTO: Pietrowski)

Exhibit of military saints within the Orthodox Christian tradition, from St. Tikhon's Monastery Metropolitan Museum. (PHOTO: Piotrowski)Archpriest John Perich, curator of the Metropolitan Museum at St. Tikhon's Monastery, displays memorabilia from the first U.S. Orthodox Christian Chaplain, Fr. Vladimir Borichevsky. (PHOTO: Belonick)

Matushka Wendy Cwiklinski (center), who delivered a presentation titled "Resources to Help Military Spouses and Families," is pictured with her husband (left), Fr. Jerome, and with alumnus Fr. David Alexander, chaplain in the U.S. Navy. (PHOTO: Belonick)